[gardeners] terminator terminated
margaret lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 06 Oct 1999 07:20:38 -0600
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal carried a story that Monsanto will not
commercially use the terminator technology, and is exhorting others not to
use it either. Monsanto did not develop that technology, but that company
is buying Delta Pine and Land Co., which co-developed it with the USDA.
That technology would have plants produce sterile seeds, a disaster to
third world farmers who save their own seeds. The sterile seed result was
also feared to be transmitted to non-treated crops by wind.
The USDA, OUR USDA that gives grants to people for seed saving, reportedly
was unhappy with Monsanto's decision. I think the decision was a good one,
and think those who are doing genetic modification ought to step back and
take a good look at why many of us fear that technology. Margaret L